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Growing orchid-An Overview

Technical Report · December 2014

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3764.3761

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 Extension Folder No: E-117/ Ranchi-40

Growing Orchid
An Overview

ICAR Research Complex For Eastern Region

Research Centre, Ranchi
Plandu-834010, Jharkhand

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 Introduction
Orchids are native to tropical regions but with little efforts and care, they can be grown anywhere
in the world. Orchids are among those flowers which come in a variety of colors. Orchids grow in the
most diverse climatic zones. Some flourish in continually moist, warm regions, others in regions that
are warm and moist some of the time, others again in regions that are dry and hot in the day time and
moist and cool at night. Regular airing or ventilation is extremely important for the growth of orchids
in particular for their aerial roots. Water should always be at room temperature, slightly acid and soft.
Orchids prefer weak acid water with a pH value of around 5 or 6. Under natural habitat, orchid receives
nutrition from the breakdown of dead plants and is supplied in rainwater that drips from leaf to leaf and
finally to the orchid.
Orchids have different life cycles to most other indoor plants. They do not grow in garden soil or
ordinary houseplant compost, but in special orchid growing media and require relatively few nutrients.
Proper management of five elements of temperature, light, air, humidity and nutrients is essential for
production of enchanting flowers.

Growth Cycle

The life of orchids is characterized by an alternating cycle of growth periods and rest periods.
The rest phase corresponds to the winter period. Many orchids flower shortly after the rest phase. If
the orchids are exposed to too much moisture during this phase, they will not flower and will form only
weak new shoots. There are two types of growth patterns for orchids, sympodial and monopodial.
The monopodial orchids, Phalaenopsis and Vanda being the two most common, grow up off a single
central stem with leaves on either side. Sympodial orchids have multiple growths and usually grow
one or more new growths per year.
Often the growth pattern looks
like a corkscrew with each new
growth coming from the side of the
one before it in a circular pattern.
A polyhouse can proved to be
a good and ideal place to grow
many plants including orchids.
Light, temperature and humidity
are some of the conditions which
can be maintained very easily in a Polyhouse for growing orchid Shadenet house for growing
polyhouse. orchid

Temperature
In the natural habitat, orchids like lot of warmth, night time temperatures are often around
7-12 C lower than the day time values. This night time temperature drop is necessary for the formation
o

of flowers in many orchids and should be at least 4-6oC.

Important tips:
Terrestrial orchids without bulbs and with relatively soft leaves do not need direct
zz
sunlight. E.g. Paphiopedilum.
Epiphytes with large, fleshy and no bulbs will not cope well with a lot of sunlight. E.g.
zz
Phalaenopsis.
Orchids with relatively tough leaves with large surfaces and relatively well developed
zz
bulbs will not require direct sunlight until they reach the flowering stage and begin to
open. E.g. Cattleya, Cymbidium, Laelia, Odontoglossum, Oncidium.
Orchids with narrow, tough, leathery leaves and large bulbs are genuine sun lovers.
zz
E.g. Vanda.
Orchids with narrow leaves, almost like stems or with striated leaves and with no bulbs
zz
are well adapted to great intensity of light. E.g. Dendrobium striolatum.

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Humidity
Humidity levels of 60-70% are the ideal conditions for the growth of orchid. Humidity levels can be
raised by misters, electrical humidifiers, plastic grid or a specially equipped plant container.
Mister: These misters supply the sufficient humidity to the plant. It is better to spray the leaves in
mornings, so that the plant will have plenty of time during the day to dry off before the temperature drops
at night. It is not advisable to spray any plants while the sun is shining on them. The minute droplets of
water will act like magnifying glasses in sunlight, and may cause burns on the leaves.
Tips for increasing humidity
A bowl full of water should be placed between the orchid pots.
zz
Use waterfalls, indoor fountains, a spring stone surrounded with plants or aquariums.
zz
Light
Orchid needs an abundance of light, and can withstand direct sun on their leaves early in the morning
or late in the afternoon / evening. The light intensity required for better growth and flowering is 25 to 30
Kilo lux. They require shading between 11am to 3pm where the light intensity is too high. Generally, during
bright sunny days, 50% shadenet, while during cloudy days 25% shadenet is used.
Ventilations
Regular airing or ventilation is extremely important for the growth of orchids in particular for their
aerial roots. Fresh air will prevent decay and the proliferation of fungi and pests.

Growing Medium

The growing media of orchids varies according to the habitat. The growing media for epiphytic orchids
contains tree bark, terrestrial orchids require soil medium and lithophytic orchids grows in rocks. The
different components of growing media are,
i) Tree bark: Shredded Katus bark from Castanopsis hysterix is widely used.
ii) Coconut husk chips (CHC), made from the pithy covering outside of the spherical, hard coconut
shell,
iii) Cocopeat: “Coco-Peat,” is the result of grinding the husk into coarse powder.
iv) Perlite: Perlite, often referred to as “sponge rock”, is expanded volcanic glass, and is a great
aerator and holds enough moisture.
v) Pumice: It is similar in nature to perlite, but with a higher density and lower moisture-holding
capacity.
vi) Leaf mould: Dried and partially decomposed leaf. A good choice for terrestrial orchids, releases
lot of nutrients as it decomposes, high in water retention capacity.
vii) Brick pieces: Small pieces of brick added to the media for increasing porosity of the medium.
They are high in thermal mass,
it is good to have them in a Properties of some most commonly used growing
combination for hotter and drier media
climates. Media Moisture Thermal Watering Stability
viii) Vermiculite: It is having high Retention Mass Frequency
water holding capacity. It Stone/bricks Low High Frequent High
gradually releases nutrients Perlite High Low Low High
for plant absorption. On an Leaf mould Medium Low Medium Low
average it contains 5-8 % Cocopeat High Low Low Medium
available K and 9-12 % Mg. It Coconut husk Medium Low Medium Medium
can fix ammonium into a form Sponge Rock Low Low Frequent High
that is not readily available to Tree Fern Medium Low Medium Medium
the plant. This fixed nitrogen is
Katus Bark Medium Low Medium Low
gradually transformed to nitrate
Charcoal Medium Low Medium Medium
by microorganisms making it
available for plant uptake. Moss High Low Medium Low

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 ix) Sphagnum moss: It is very good for encouraging
new growth; therefore a good choice for seedling Based on structure of
orchids. roots of orchids, the media
may be prepared. For fine
Plant Containers rooted orchids a fine grade
media is desirable, whereas
Clay pots are air and water permeable and are more orchids with thick and chunky
stable because of their weight, but they dry out a lot faster roots will do well in coarse
than plastic pots and may allow salts to accumulate which in grade media.
turn can burn the roots of orchids. Plastic pots do not allow the
growing media to dry out quickly and will always remain clean.
The best plastic pots have thick walls in light colours, which do
not break easily and will not heat up in strong sunlight.

Watering
Water should always be at room temperature, slightly acid
and soft. Orchids prefer weak acid water with a pH value of Leaf mould
around 5 or 6. Watering depends on many factors such as,
zzOn the type of growing medium
zzOn the plant container being used. Orchids in plastic pots
will not dry out as fast as those in clay pots.
zzOn the humidity level, the higher the humidity the less
often need to water.
zzOn the temperature
Leaf mould + Coconut husk
zzOn air movement
zzOn the growth of the plants. An orchid that is going through
a growth phase and is producing many new shoots will
require more water than a plant that has finished growing
and is conserving energy for the ripening of its bulbs and
for forming flowers.

Watering and spraying should be done in the morning

Leaf mould + Coconut husk
hour. This will allow the plant enough time to dry off before + Brick piece
the slight drop in temperature towards evening. Orchids are
Media preparation
watered from above to moistened the growing medium and
(4:2:1 = Leaf mould: Coconut
to avoid the water to run over the plant itself. The orchid pots
husk : Brick piece)
should not be placed directly on the ground or on a table as the
air is necessary to circulate beneath the pot. In excess water,
the leaves become limp, drop off or turn yellow; the roots decays and growth ceases. In too little
water, the pseudobulb shrivels, the roots turn brown and wither, and the leaves go limp, drop off or
turn yellow.

Fertilizing
For young plants the amount of nitrogen is increased e.g. NPK at the ratio of 30:10:10 (0.1-
zz
0.2%). Too much nitrogen may produce soft, unhealthy plants.
For intermediate growth stage, a balanced fertilizer mixture may be given e.g. NPK ratio of
zz
20:20:20 (0.1-0.2%).
For flowering stage, adults plant may require an increase in potassium and phosphorus. e.g.
zz
NPK ratio of 15:25:25 or 15: 30:30 (0.1-0.2%).
Fertilize twice a week during growth periods.
zz
Fertilize once a month during rest periods (winter).
zz
Never fertilize freshly repotted plants.
zz

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 Fertilize more often using a greatly diluted fertilizer.
zz Potting and Repotting
Fertilize only when the plants are in growing and require
zz
Every orchid growing medium should
nutrients for their development.
Never pour fertilizer on to a dry growing medium.
zz have the following characteristics:
Fertilize only well-rooted, healthy plants.
zz It should be permeable to air and
zz
water and retain warmth.
It should be light weight and loose
zz
Repotting but still hold the plant securely.
It should absorb water easily but
zz
Repotting is necessary in the following circumstances also drain quickly.
If the growing media has become hard and dense and is no
zz It should show a slight acid pH
zz
longer for air or water to be permeable. value.
If the plant is too large for the pot and is constantly in danger
zz
of tipping over.
If a plants new growth is becoming too much for the old pot and is beginning to grow over the edge.
zz
If the plant is sick.
zz

When to repot
The frequency of repotting will depend on the shape and growth of the orchid and also on the type
of growing media. Plants may grow for years in completely synthetic polystyrene chips. Natural growing
media, which will decompose and break down over a period of time, will have to be renewed more
often. Sympodially growing orchids will have to be repotted approximately every 2-3 years on average,
for example Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Laelia, Odontoglossum, Oncidium. Monopodial orchids
are repotted every 3-4 years, for example Vanda. Paphiopedilum, and phalaenopsis should however be
repotted every 2-3 years. Always repotting is done at the beginning of a new growth period. That time will
be recognized by the appearance of fresh, light green shoots and when the orchids begin to form new roots.

How to repot
Water the plant well the day before repotting so that its roots are smooth and flexible rather than dry
zz
and brittle.
Carefully loosen the rootstock in the old pot.
zz
Now shake the root stock gently without allowing plant to fall apart. Parts of the roots that look
zz
diseased, dried up or shrunken should be cut off with a very sharp knife (disinfect knife with alcohol
before cutting). Plants that are too large or very old can be divided when repotting.
Place a thin layer of new growing media on top of the drainage layer in the prepared pot. Place the
zz
root stock on top of this and surround it with rest of the media. While doing this, occasionally tap the
pot against the edge of the table to help the media particles to shake down into all the cracks and
spaces. Monopodial orchids should be placed in the centre of the pot. Sympodial orchids can be
placed in such a way that the oldest bulb is close to the edge of the pot while the new shoots are in
the centre.
Allow a space of 1-2 cm around the plant for watering purposes.
zz

Steps in Repotting

Fungicide treatment Placing of brick at the Placing the plant in the Filling the pot with
bottom of pot pot growing media around
the plant

5
After repotting
Place the freshly repotted plant in a bright, but on no account sunny position.
zz
New root formation will be encouraged if a heating mat is placed underneath the pots.
zz
Orchids should not be given water immediately after repotting. Because the damaged parts of roots
zz
are better able to heal in growing media that is merely moist and fresh. The minimum moisture
encourages the roots to grow.
After 8-14 days, the plant may be watered normally and according to its requirements.
zz

Orchid Species

Aerides multiflorum Coelogyne species Cymbidium ‘sleeping nymph’

Dendrobium densiflorum Oncidium species (Dancing girl Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum (Lady’s

orchid) slipper orchid)

Vanda blue magic Phalaenopsis species Phalaenopsis manii

Correct Citation: Naik, S. K., Maurya, S. and Choudhary, J. S. 2014. Growing orchid- An overview.
Extension Folder No: E-117/ Ranchi-40. ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Research
Centre, Ranchi.
Authors: S. K. Naik, S. Maurya and J. S. Choudhary
Published By: Director, ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna
For further information please contact: Head, ICAR Research Complex for Eastern
Region, Research Centre, Ranchi Plandu-834010, (Jharkhand) Phone: 0651-2260207,
Fax: 0651-2260141
Designed & Printed by : The Composers Press, New Delhi. (M) 9810771160, 011-25707869

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